DESTIN — Mentally ill Serge Storms has that murderous itch that even one of his infamous Home Depot trips can't shake and his trusted biographer is on hand to share more of his stories.
From journalist to novelist, author Tom Dorsey has kept readers in stitches — almost literally — for 15 books with his anecdotes about fictitious character Storms who murders folks up-and-down the Florida peninsula.
Working for 16 years in the newspaper business as a crime writer, Dorsey says he's not afraid to draw on old stories and use them as inspiration.
"I keep files of Florida police blotters to pull out on occasion," said Dorsey.
The Indiana-native said that he likes living in Florida, but the state spawns some strange behavior.
"I remember one story in a (Florida) paper years ago, where two people crawled into a Dumpster, only to get into a fight with two other people who were already in the Dumpster," Dorsey said.
Many — if not all of Storms’ murders — are taken from the pages of Florida periodicals as well. According to Dorsey, the rest of the murderous ideas come from his mind and home improvement stores.
He says when he is about two-thirds done with a book he'll walk the aisles of Home Depot to gather the final bit of ideas for his story.
"I (think) about what could, and how things could, be used to kill someone," Dorsey said. "Home Depot was OK with it; their sales increased."
Dorsey's "Panhandle Swing" includes visits to libraries throughout Okaloosa, Walton and Leon Counties.
The author spoke to a packed house on Monday night at the Destin Library, fielding questions and promoting his most recent novel released in 2012, “Pineapple Grenade.”
For those who think Dorsey is too morbid for the everyday reader, the 52-year-old doesn't really care.
"If I dislike you, you must die," Dorsey said joking. "I may not use your name, but if you read it you'd know it was you."
Dorsey often writes about neighbors he dislikes, but said that strangely enough they've never given him any negative feedback.
He said some fans have come to him, offering affirmative feedback wishing they had an avenue such as Storms to express anger toward their neighbors.
According to Dorsey, Storms is "an old school criminal," often even helping out good people. Consider him a modern-day-Floridian Robin Hood who sometimes kills people.
"Storms hates scams, and he hates people who take advantage of the elderly . . . and, well, he's in Florida, so he's busy," Dorsey said.
Dorsey told the crowd at the library he has recently shown up on the radar of an unfamiliar crowd.
"In Pinellas County, I was telling the group about ... cracking the knitting market and this little old lady was sitting there, knitting of course and without stopping or looking up she said, 'I'm knitting a straight jacket'."
"That meant a lot to me," Dorsey said laughing.
To learn more about Tim Dorsey visit timdorsey.com.